The Sweetest Kiss (Brothers of Worthington Series) (13 page)

“Trey, we cannot do this.”

He nodded, turning a frustrated circle. “You are correct.”

The wild beat of her heart took a long time to slow, and during this time, all she could do was stare at Trey. Confusion creased his brow for a few minutes, then finally the lines disappeared and he smiled.

“Forgive me, Judith. I got carried away in the moment.”

She forced a chuckle. “I understand completely.”

He scrubbed his hands over his face and straightened. “Do you wish me to escort you home?”

“No. I shall be fine.”

“Then I shall be off. Once again, please forgive me for taking such liberties.”

A cold draft seemed to come out of nowhere and chilled her, so she folded her arms. “There’s nothing to forgive. I…I allowed it, although I should not have.”

He nodded and strode to his horse. In one swift movement, he swung atop the steed, and without another look, he urged his horse into a run and was gone.

Emptiness filled her chest and she wanted to cry. In Trey’s arms she experienced things she’d never known existed. But she could never allow that to happen again. He wasn’t husband material, and she could never change him.

A small smile tugged at her lips. Strange thing was
,
she didn’t want to. His charm was what made him the man she desired. Was it the role of a rogue? Possibly, but it went further. All she knew was if Alex didn’t come for her, she’d have to find a husband soon, because the longer she stayed here, the more she wanted Trey.

~*~*~*~

The morning sun on Judith’s face stirred her out of a deep sleep. With a yawn, she stretched her arms above her head. After blinking to clear her vision, she glanced around the room. Her mind rolled from the rapid change to her life. She pulled the blankets to her chin as she curled beneath them. Even as uncertainty dominated most of her thoughts, she smiled. How could she not? Trey’s attention had given her something to ponder.

Not once had a man stirred flutters in her belly and made her heart beat with such wild palpitations. Not once had a man’s kiss made her mind go blank, only to fill with thoughts of him. Alex had never made her toes curl or her mind blank, yet last night while kissing Trey, she couldn’t even remember her fiancé’s name. How could
Trey
make her feel so desirable when Alex hadn’t come close to inspiring that kind of feeling inside her?

She rolled on her side and stared out the window. Last night before she came to bed, she’d left the drapes open, staring at the moon while making silly wishes. Now in the light of day, she wondered if her wishes could become reality.

Was Alex really the man for her?

Or was Trey?

If, by some great chance, Trey’s thoughts turned to marriage and family, would he make a good husband? She closed her eyes and cuddled her head against the pillow. Would it be so terrible to fall in love with Trey? They were adults now. She didn’t need to fear him as she’d done as a child.

A growl rumbled through her stomach, reminding her of the need to eat. She climbed from bed and rang for her maid to help her prepare for the day. With each stroke of the brush through her hair, her thoughts were on the man who disturbed her in more ways than one. By the time she was dressed and ready to leave her room, she anticipated seeing Trey this morning.

Telling him about her thoughts was out of the question, mainly because she was uncertain of them herself. Besides, she didn’t want to frighten the poor man. She needed to test the waters first. Did he have the same confused feelings about her?

Judith strolled into the dining room for the morning meal eager to follow through on her decision, but Trey’s absence gave her pause. The dowager ate alone. Heaviness sank in Judith’s chest. Something must be wrong.

The older woman smiled and motioned for her to enter. “Do come in, child. I welcome your company.”

Straightening her shoulders, Judith walked to the chair beside the dowager and sat. “Where is Lord Trey this morning? Usually he’s here and halfway finished with his meal before I arrive.”

“Oh, he will not be joining us for a few days. Business called him out of town, unfortunately.”

Disappointment crept into Judith’s heart, although she tried to usher it out. There was no reason for her to feel this way. He was a free man and could come and go as he pleased.

Why did he have to pick today to go out of town? He’d kissed her so passionately yesterday, leading her to believe there could be more moments like that. Now guilt washed over her like a turbulent wave hitting against jagged rocks. She had indeed frightened him away. Her first instincts about him had been correct. He didn’t want a wife.
Just a scandalous liaison.
He knew Judith looked for a husband and nothing less.

A footman brought her a plate of assorted fruits with scones and honey butter. She picked up an apple slice and nibbled. Her appetite vanished and all she wanted to do was return to her room and sulk. Silently she scolded herself. What made her think he’d change? Naturally, pigs don’t lose their bothersome scent. And Trey would always be a rake of the worst kind.

Isabelle Worthington sipped her tea then patted her mouth with the linen napkin. “I have decided you are ready to plan a real dinner party.”

Judith gasped and swung her head toward the dowager. “Are you certain?”

“Of course.
I know an adept pupil when I see one. Mind you, it shan’t be a large gathering, just ten or twelve friends. How does that sound?”

Planning a social gathering didn’t worry Judith. She’d done it several times while her parents were alive. Could she accomplish hosting a successful gathering without Trey there to tease? For some odd reason, he’d been her sole motivation lately. Perhaps his absence was a good thing.

“That sounds wonderful,
Your
Grace. I would be pleased to host a dinner party.”

Isabelle clapped her hands. “Splendid. We shall have it in four days. Since you are not familiar with those who live nearby, I will send out the invitations.”

Judith forced a smile. “Wonderful. Please be certain to invite the
Marquess
of Hawthorne. I’m acquainted with him.”

“As you wish, my dear.
His family is very close to ours. I, too, would like to visit with him again. I heard his cousin from France is visiting. I shall invite her, as well.”

Isabelle chatted about the guests she intended to invite while Judith picked at her food. It would be enjoyable to see Dominic again, but could she talk to him without wanting Trey nearby? She silently cursed that man, then herself for not being able to stop thinking about him.

After the meal, both she and the dowager walked into the drawing room. Judith stood by the window, gazing into the flower garden. The bright sun colored rainbows above the beautiful plants and beckoned her to venture out and enjoy their loveliness. It wouldn’t happen today. Not with her sour mood. She’d wilt the petals if she strolled too close.

“Judith, I hope you do not mind, but I would like us to travel into London to Bond Street this afternoon. I feel it’s time to outfit you in the latest fashion.”

She yanked her attention away from the window and focused on her guardian. “Why? I’m not in need of anything. I have plenty of gowns.”

Isabelle flipped her hand in the air. “Humor an old woman, please. I would very much like to take you shopping. Besides, women can never have enough gowns and accessories in my opinion.”

Strange how being raised a country girl was so different than how Isabelle lived her life. Judith nodded. “Then I would enjoy an outing with you.”

Her guardian walked to her before clasping their hands. “We shall have a fabulous time. Go now and ready yourself. I would like to leave shortly.”

“As you wish.”

As Judith hurried to her room, her thoughts turned to Trey once again. Not too long ago he’d offered to take her shopping, but she declined. What would have happened if she hadn’t turned him down? A thrill shot through her and made her stomach flutter. Going alone with him would certainly cause a scandal, especially since she couldn’t keep away from him. Instead, she’d have to imagine what it would have been like in secret, knowing it would never happen in real life. Unfortunately, reality was not as sweet and left her heart flat, without emotion.

It didn’t take long to get ready for the trip, and soon she sat across from the dowager in the black coach trimmed with silver; the family’s crest painted on the door. The coach bumped them around on the seat, more than Judith would like.

“
Your
Grace? Would you mind if I asked you something personal?”

The older woman’s eyebrows rose. “What is it, my dear?”

“I sincerely hope I’m not dredging up bad memories, but—” she swallowed hard—“Lord Trey briefly mentioned Lord Tristan had died. If you are up to it, could you tell me what happened?”

Isabelle’s smile faded and her eyes ceased from sparkling. She wrung her hands in her lap as she switched her attention to the landscape passing outside the window.

Judith’s heart sank. Perhaps she shouldn’t have said anything, but she desperately wanted to know the fate of her childhood friend. It was obvious Trey was troubled by his brother’s death and refused to talk.

Several minutes passed. The only sound came from the clip-clop of the horse’s hoofs, and the coach’s wheels crunching on the road. Finally, the dowager turned as her eyes met Judith’s stare.

“I suppose I could speak about it. I have not said anything for so long, hoping the pain would disappear.” She shook her head. “It has not.”

“It might never leave,” Judith whispered. “I will always mourn the death of my parents, but I choose to remember the good times instead of the bad.”

“You are correct of course, my dear.” The older woman pulled herself a little straighter. “The truth is I really do not know every detail of his death, just what Trey has related.”

Judith wrinkled her brow. “Lord Trey was with him?”

“Oh, yes. They were traveling abroad, somewhere near the North Sea.
Trey
said they came upon bandits who were being chased by the local military regiment, and they were caught in crossfire. Tristan was shot, and the blow knocked him off his horse. Apparently, they were near a cliff, and Tristan fell a great distance into the water below.” The dowager’s bottom lip trembled. “
Trey
tried to find his brother. Searched night and day, and had others helping, but they finally came to the conclusion the sea had taken Tristan’s body.”

The dowager dabbed her finger at the moisture sliding down her cheek. A knot formed in Judith’s throat. What a tragic death.

Isabelle sniffled. “Trey was beside himself for months afterward. He stayed in his room or his study, drinking himself into oblivion. I feared for his mental state. He would not talk about it. When he did, he blamed himself.”

Tears gathered in Judith’s eyes as her heart broke.

“If it was not for Lord Hawthorne, I don’t know what would have become of my son.”

“What did Lord Hawthorne do?”

The duchess shrugged. “I never learned exactly what he had accomplished, but Dominic stayed in Trey’s study for forty-eight hours straight talking and sobering my son. After that, Trey took things day by day. He was never the same. For some reason, he had hardened his heart against everything he had cherished.”

“And Lord Trey has never talked about what happened?”

The older woman shook her head.
“Never.
Every time I ask him, he changes the conversation.”

“Was that when his lifestyle became…um…less than admirable?”

The dowager chuckled. “That’s a very nice way to say it.” She wiped her tears. “But the answer is yes, in a sense. Trey had always been a wayward child and young man, but after Tristan’s death, Trey’s attitude toward everything changed, especially his taste in female companionship. As hard as Trevor and I tried, we could not persuade Trey to think differently.”

“I suppose he will never change,” Judith said hesitantly as sadness hung in her chest.

“That’s yet to be decided. I think all people can alter their lifestyles, especially men. Trey needs to find the right woman, I believe. Once he loses his heart to the perfect lady, he will change. I’m certain of it.”

Judith’s heart wrenched. The older woman had such high hopes. How well did she know her own son? Was there a chance he would change? Deep inside, Judith wanted to be the woman to transform him into a better man. Inwardly, she chuckled. Why did she think that? Of all people,
she
was certainly not the woman for Trey.

Yet why did the idea take root in her mind, and especially her heart? She wanted to ignore common sense and at least try to help.

~*~*~*~

Trey sat across from his solicitor and tapped his fingers on the desk. Mr. Lewis gathered his papers and set them on the corner of the dark oak top, pushing them until they touched Trey’s fingers.

“It’s all there, my lord. I still have a few more leads to follow, but that shouldn’t take much time.”

Nodding, Trey picked up the first page and glanced at the words, not letting anything register in his head. He really didn’t need to. Mr. Lewis had told Trey what he needed to know.